I spent the weekend developing a taste for Fassbinder. I viewed Fox and His Friends, The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant, and (my favorite of the bunch) Ali: Fear Eats the Soul. Some of his films are a bit boring, but just as I begin to lose interest, I find something that draws me back in. All of th...

I've been enjoying 1937's movie satire Stand-In , with Leslie Howard (whom, I've found, seemed better suited to comedy), Joan Blondell, and Humphrey Bogart. Lots of fun so far - I only made it halfway last night before I had to call it a night and get myself to bed for work in the morning. I've had ...

The Near Masterpieces (feature length) 3. MACBETH (1948) The Merely Great Films (feature length) 2. THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI (1948) I'd probably switch the two above (I don't really care for any of the film versions of Macbeth except Throne of Blood ). Otherwise, based on what I've seen, I wouldn't q...

Hi Stuart, I'm a great fan of Stephanie Cole's work on the television series Waiting for God , one of the most intelligent TV series ever produced about the aged and a show I can't imagine ever being produced in the States. I believe this is the only program I've ever seen her in, but I'd love to se...

Whatever the state of his personal life, I seem to recall someone in the documentary (I want to say it was Mia Farrow, his goddaughter) mentioning that for all the romance that pervaded his films, Cukor himself really didn't find anyone that could've been considered his soulmate (these weren't the e...

I've already taken heat elsewhere for my cynicism about this decision, but you can color me peeved that the ceremony each year seems to become less and less about honoring those who've made significant contributions to film and more about raising the Academy's profile or making the awards more palat...

I think the '54 version of A Star is Born would be my choice for most romantic film ever made. I feel as though the characters are more fully developed in the longer version (though I admit I haven't seen the '37 version in some time), and the casting of Mason and especially Garland only enhances th...

Has anyone else seen this American Masters episode (if "episode" is the correct term)? Very, very informative, intereresting piece on George Cukor and his career. Cukor was a director that I liked very much when I was first introduced to classics as a teenager, but as time wore on and I sa...

Pretty good month - many expected titles, as it's Halloween month. I'll probably make another try to do my William Castle informative speech for Toastmasters again this year, as there's a double feature of House on Haunted Hill and The Tingler scheduled for one day that month, plus Strait Jacket for...

Jeanne Moreau and Donald Sutherland most definitely.

And if those eligible include stars from overseas, I'd also nominate Danielle Darrieux and Machiko Kyo.

Since I think The Tree of Life is one of the best films of the century (!), I'm already out of the boycott. But I still have never seen an episode of American Idol , so there's that. I'm planning on going to see The Tree of Life this week. It will be a 2 1/2 hour drive (I'm also hoping to see Midni...

Island of Lost Souls, a day after my birthday: It's a VERY good day! :D I've already put in my order from B&N: Got The Great Dictator, The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, and High and Low (Blu) coming soon! Some Criterions I've managed to snag for a steal over the last few months from sites lik...

Hi Anne, Both of these movies are in my stack of "to be watched" DVD-R movies. I'll try to work them in as soon as I can after my summer school and then check out your remarks after I've seen them. I love both Ellen Burstyn and Carol Burnett and I've had a crush on Sandy Dennis for I don't...

For some reason, George Furth cracks me up every time I see him, and he doesn't even have to say or do anything. I imagine I'll always remember him most for a performance on TV, as Reverend Standfast (who did anything but) on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.

The Constant Nymph is also on tap for late Sept. , and that bowls me over. I guess the rights issues are no longer a problem.